Cleaning compound for carpets



.UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TARDY W. FORD, OF BELPRE, OHIO.

CLEANINGCOMPOUND Foe CARPETS, PLUSH, aw.

EBPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,772, dated June 23, 1885.

Application filed March 31, 1885. (No specimens).

following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in compositions intended particularly for cleaning carpets, plush upholstery, and all similar fabrics having a large amount of nap, between the parts of which large quantities of dust and dirt settle and deaden the colors of the material and materially injure the appearance.

Heretofore compositions for this purpose have been possessed of numberless defects, among which may be mentioned that arising from the lack of a sufficient quantity of cleansing substance to thoroughly eradicate the dirt without injury to the color of the material. It may also be stated that it has generally been necessary to thoroughly wet the fabric, in or der to .produce any beneficial result, thus necessitating its removal and exposure tothe atmospheric or some artificial drying medium.

The object of my invention is to produce a composition by the use of which fabrics of the kind referred to may be thoroughly cleaned and freed from dust, dirt, grease, and similar disfigurements, the original color restored,and when used in carpets the nap raised as far as permitted by the wear which it has undergone.

With these objects in view my invention consists of a composition whicl1,when prepared in the manner to be hereinafter set forth from the ingredients mentioned, shall be of about the consistency of jelly-that is, its particles shall be easily divided to enter the interstices of the fabric upon which it is used,in order that all the dirt may be reached, and at the same time the mass shall be sufficiently firm to prevent its penetration entirely through the material, whereby it may be rendered damp, and there foreliable to mildew or rot.

The composition is made up of the following substances, in about the relative quantities mentioned: ten gallons water, one-half pound oil of cocoa,s1X ounces aqua-ammonia, five pounds vegetable-oil soap, one'fourth pound spirits turpentine, one and one-fourth pound borax, and one-fourth pound glycerine.

From the above 'it will be seenthat the compound incorporates a very much larger proportion of soap than it has heretofore been cus-.

toinary to employ in compositions of this na; ture. cleansing material a more thorough eradication of the dirt is accomplished than has heretofore been possible, and in order that the effects of the alkalicontained in the soap may be neutralized and the colors remain uninjured the oil of cocoa and glycerine are employed. The glycerine performs the double function of assisting in the neutralization of the alkali and of softening the pile of the fabric, which may have become hard by wear or contact with some foreign substance. In order to restore and brighten the dyes as much as possible, the small proportion of turpentine is employed.

In compounding the substance all the ingredients except the ammonia are placed ina vessel and allowed to boil for about two hours, and within about live minutes of the time when it is considered sufficiently boiled I introduce the ammonia. WVhen the mass is taken from the fire it-is allowed to cool. The tendency of the borax is to solidify the mass, and experiments have shown the quantity of borax specified gives the composition the desired consistency. In using the composition-for instance, in cleaning carpets a suitable quantity of the jelly is spread over the surface to be cleaned by means of a suitable scraper, and thoroughly rubbed by a stiff scrubbing brush until a lather is produced, when the substance is scraped/oft by a stiff scraper. \Vhen the material is re moved, the dirt contained in the carpetis held in suspension therein and readily removed.

It is thought to be advantageous to rub the cleaned surface with a damp sponge, in oru. to remove any small quantity of the cleansing medium that may escape the scraper.

After the gelatine is removed from the ourpet the surface thereof will be found to be per fectly free from any dust, dirt, grease, or stains, other than those of ink or other material that is not in itself a dye, and the nap will be restored to its normal position, and the general appearance of the carpet will be as good as new, excepting such defects as may be caused by the actual or natural wear and tear.

In all the other known methods of cleaning By the use of this larger quantity of carpets and plush Without removing them from The composition herein described, consisting the floor or furniture a liquid is employed of water, oil of cocoa, aqua-ammonia,vegetable- Which sinks through the material and carries oil soap, spirits of turpentine, borax, and glycthe dust with it, which dust, when dry, again erine, in about the proportions specified. r 5 5 rises to the surface, and thus onlya temporary In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my benefit is secured, while by the use 'of my hand in the presence of two subscribing witcompound, as already explained, the dirt, &c., nesses.

is effectually and absolutely removed. T. W. FORD.

Having thus described my invention,what I \Vituesses: 10 claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, DAVID H. MEAD,

I is E. L. WHITE.

j It is herehy certified .that the name of the patentee of Letters Patent No. 320,772, granted June 23, 1885, for an improvement in Cleaning Compounds for Carpets, Plush, &e., was erroneously written and printed Tardy W. Ford, whereas it should have been Tandy W. Ford; that the proper corrections have been made in the files and records of the case in the Patent Ofiice and should he read in the Letters Patent that the same may conform thereto.

Signed, eountersigned, and sealed this 21st day of July, A. D. 1885.

[SEAL] H. L. MULDROW, Acting Secretary of the Interior. Oountersigned:

M. V. MONTGOMERY,

Commissioner of Patents. 

